Bad planning mars festivities

Lollapalooza 1993, the event so many young people anticipated for more than a year, turned out to be the logistic disaster of the year.

Whatever care was used in assembling the bill of performers was clearly not used in taking care of such details as traffic flow, parking or organization.

It took some people more than an hour to drive one or two blocks. Parking was erratic, creating safety hazards. A poorly marked area made walking difficult for those without hiking boots. Locating the will-call window (about two miles away from the entrance) resulted in blisters. In short, the conditions were not conducive to festivity.

Once inside the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, food, drinks and blankets were confiscated, forcing the audience to buy costly items (water was $ 6). The political aspect of past Lollapalooza Festivals was scaled down this time, with no information booths in support of various causes. Instead, a small tent provided a chaotic debate hall for poorly addressed issues and ineffective presentations.

The few booths this year were restricted to vendors selling food, costume jewelry, temporary tattoos, paraphernalia for alternative music crowds and Deadheads, and such services as body piercing.